New reporting from NBC News details how Virginians are “disappointed” and want a governor who puts Virginians first, as GOP candidate Winsome Earle-Sears actively supports Donald Trump’s increasing attacks on Virginia’s workforce and economy.

Despite Virginia being home to more than 140,000 federal employees, Sears has doubled down on her support for Trump’s cuts in recent weeks, telling the Fredericksburg Free Press that Virginians who lose their jobs will be “all right” after she defended Trump’s layoffs in an interview with the Associated Press.

NBC News: Federal layoffs shake up Virginia ahead of 2025 governor’s race

• “Virginia could be one of the states most affected by President Donald Trump's moves to shrink the federal workforce — and this year’s race for governor will test whether the slashing approach is a political loser, winner or nonissue [...].” 

• “NBC News spoke with more than a dozen voters around the state who participated in past NBC News polls and said they were not strongly aligned with either party. All were aware of the ongoing federal layoffs, with some expressing deep concern about the effect on Virginia workers and those receiving federal benefits, though most were not yet tuned into the governor’s race.”

• “[...] In Arlington, a man named Matthew who was not comfortable sharing his last name, told NBC News on Tuesday that he expects the recent layoffs of federal workers to factor into his 2025 vote for governor — as the self-described political independent attended his first Democratic Party event, a week after losing his own federal government job.”

• “Asked if the recent layoffs could factor into his vote for governor, Matthew said, “100%.”

• “Youngkin’s lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, is running for the GOP nomination with his backing. Dave LaRock, a former state legislator, launched his campaign Wednesday and has signaled an intention to run to Earle-Sears’ right. (One of LaRock’s first campaign promises is to create a state-level DOGE operation in Virginia.)”

• “Earle-Sears has praised the White House’s DOGE effort while also pointing to the Youngkin administration’s investments in the private sector of the Virginia economy as a reason that fired workers shouldn’t fret.”

• “In [a Fredericksburg Free Press] interview, she said "Virginia is going to be alright" and pointed to recent investments the governor's administration made in the local economy.”

• “Youngkin, for his part, has praised Trump’s DOGE effort, too, while also launching a website that effectively serves as a job board for what he said were 250,000 open jobs across Virginia.”

• “Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker told NBC News that local county parties are seeing heightened interest and high turnout at their events.” 

• “Certainly it’s going to make me not want to vote for a Republican,” Marc, a 67-year-old retired resident of Alexandria, said in a phone interview. 

• “Roderick Boyd, a 58-year-old public school teacher from Buchanan, a rural area in central Virginia, said it was “just shocking and disappointing that the federal government sees fit to eliminate jobs that are primarily focused on helping people who can’t help themselves, and providing oversight to make sure that the general consumers are protected.”